Parish Church of St Peter and St Thomas, Stambourne (EHER 6796)

Parish church, late 11th century and later. Walls of flint and pebble rubble, with dressings of limestone, clunch and Roman brick, roofed with handmade red clay tiles and lead. West tower late 11th century, nave 14th century, north arcade early 15th century, chancel, north aisle and north chapel late 15th century, south porch 16th century, restoration 19th century.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 6796, 6797, 6798, 6799, and 29526. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Church (NAT). <1> Parish Church of St Peter and St Thomas (formerly listed as church of St Peter). The church walls are flint and pebble rubble with limestone and clunch dressings. The west tower is late 11th century, though the north-west angle seems to have been rebuilt at an uncertain date; there are traces of blocked loops in the north and south walls. The nave may be 14th century though the north arcade is early 15th century. The chancel was rebuilt in the early 16th century when the north aisle was widened and rebuilt and the north chapel added. The mid 16th century south porch may be a rebuild of a 15th century one (from reused stonework in the outer arch). Features and fittings include: windows of the 11th, late 14th, 15th and early 16th centuries; 14th and early 16th century doorways; 15th century nave roof; early 16th century other roofs; a moulded beam in the second stage of the tower is 14th century or earlier; there is a medieval chest in the tower; late 15th or early 16th century font; early 16th century stained glass; early 16th century niches, piscinae, and sedilia; early 16th century screen with paintings; probably early 16th century stoup; early 16th century door in the north doorway to the north chapel. The south porch was added or rebuilt in the mid 16th century (the arch has reused 15th century stonework). The church was restored in the 19th century. The bells include one of 1583 and three of 1705; a chair in the chancel is of about 1600; a floor slab in the chancel is of 1710; the pulpit has early 18th century panels and a stem of early 17th century panelling. The second stage of the church tower has 11th century windows with jambs and semi-circular heads of Roman brick. The tower has quoins partly in Roman brick. Site Assessment = The 11th century west tower is remarkable, and the remains of the early 16th century screen and heraldic glass are noteworthy. <2> - <4> Parish Church of St Peter and St Thomas (formerly listed as church of St Peter). In style the tower belongs with Tollesbury and West Mersea, and spans the full width of the nave. Whether it is pre- or post-Conquest is a pertinent question. The exterior of much of the church is cement rendered and in a poor state, its repair may provide an opportunity to search for the rest of the 11th century church. Archaeological potential is unknown but could be high, especially if this massive tower belonged to a church more substantial than the present one. The graveyard has been cleared and many tombstones removed and stacked. Its character and interest have been largely destroyed. 14th century nave, 16th century north aisle, chancel, chapel. Massive west tower, usually dated to the 11th century. It has dressings of Roman brick and the fabric contains large blocks of dressed stone which must be reused - but unknown from what. Graded AIIa by Rodwell. <5> Impressive unbuttressed west tower, 11th century. Rest of church belongs to the 15th to early 16th centuries, apparently owing to the generosity of the Macwilliam family. All windows are Perpendicular. North aisle roof "is especially good". The east respond of the north chancel chapel "has a quite exceptional enrichment: a niche for a figure and above it a shield with the Macwilliam arms, a beautifully carved helmet and as a background a spray of leaf work". 16th century glass. Screen has dado "painted with figures of saints - an East Anglian rather than an Essex tradition. The quality of the paintings is low". Impressive broad and powerful 11th century west tower. <6> Late 11th century and later church. West tower is late 11th century, nave 14th century; early 15th century north arcade, late 15th century north aisle, chapel, chancel; mid-16th century south porch. The north chapel has an original doorway and door in the north wall. Its roof is early 16th century. "The west tower is square and unusually massive, in three stages, undivided externally. The quoins are partly of Roman brick, partly of limestone". Substantial area of early 16th century glass in the chancel east window. Font is late 15th or early 16th century with a 19th century bowl. Roman brick in the walls, blocked loops in the tower, of Roman bricks and opus signinum, 11th century tower windows in Roman brick. Restored in the 19th century. South porch is mid 16th century. Floor slab in the chancel is of 1710, another of 1816. Font bowl is 19th century. <7> 1982. Field visit. Site visit to inspect areas where drainage works and floor replacement were to take place. The church is of much interest for its very substantial west tower. This has Norman belfry openings turned in Roman tile and small 'Treddington style' blocked openings turned in Roman tile at a lower level. The quoining has been much replaced but in parts looks like Anglo-Saxon long and short work (south-east quoin). There is much freestone built into the upper fabric, particularly on the north and west faces. The north face includes a stone high up which looks like part of a small monolithic round-headed window reused. The original floor seemed to be early. Proposed that excavation take place in advance of any necessary ground disturbance. <8> 1992. Watching brief. A watching brief was undertaken on the renewal of a floor in the nave of Stambourne church. The old floor had been removed to a depth of 25cm uncovering an area 6m by 4m. The only visible features were the drainage pipes beneath the floor. Consultation with the builder suggested no variation in the colour of the excavated material, no pottery or other finds. <9> See also: <10> - <15>